Yes, The horse behind the pony obviously.
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I just remember being told once that the most dangerous horse in the barn is the one that everyone trusts. And the safest one was the one was that considered a menace. why? Because you stopped taking precautions with Mr Safe and people took chances that maybe they shouldn’t have because he was considered so safe. Mr Menace - people took alllll the safety precautions and never let their guard down.
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Around here the Maroons visit the County Fair in hordes.
Pushing strollers, carrying what appear to be newborns (Give birth? Next stop: Fair!) down the aisles of the barns.
Parents lift kids up to “pet the HORSIE!”
Teeny fingers, looking carrotish…
Signs saying Do Not Touch are ignored, you don’t dare say they might bite, as then you’ve admitted to the danger of your Attractive Nuisance 
I’ve had strollers pushed right up against the mini I have harnessed (in the stall) in the narrow aisle, parental units oblivious to the fact that 250# of mini could squash stroller & the contents with a sidestep.
When I do manage to get him out if the barn & to the area we’re allowed to hitch to vehicle, the crowd presses even closer.
Driving to the arena means negotiating the 500’ of not-roped-off road, filled with crowds. Sometimes so dense they’re shoulder to shoulder & Heads Up translates to stop, gawk, push kids forward for more petting 
About 1 in 10 ask permission, the other 90% act like it’s a Petting Zoo.
The Draft barns get ropes at each end, so no public Access. Horse & Pony barns do not get this courtesy 
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I hate the fair for this reason. I have seen plenty of wrecks right at that road crossing, where the poor gate attendant is trying to get people to quit walking to let the horses through. If a horse can handle fair without meds, I am in awe.
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I tell people Fair is Trial By Fire for horses new to showing 
If they can make it to the arena & handle:
*Vendors cooking/grilling just South of the wood bleachers
*Lights & noise < organist, announcer
*Noisy metal bleachers on the North
*The often scary ring traffic
They are gold!
For me, it was my 1st time in a Driving class with friend’s pony to her Drs Buggy.
Class of 12 
I was so busy trying to stay clear of the others, I was amazed when we took 4th ($5!)
For my mini, he was barely 3 & cared not a bit about the chaos - in or out if the arena 
Heading for the Deathrace 2000 drive to the arena:
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Don’t forget the colic just waiting to happen as these dumb dumbs delight in feeding the horses cotton candy, funnel cakes, lord knows what else despite all the “don’t feed the animals” signs.
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This! X1billion!
I have a pic of my TB refusing (bless his picky heart) a sugary mini-donut offered by a toddler in arms, held up to his mouthful of babychomping teeth by her father.
Friend took the pic & then shooed Daddy Numnutz away.
Daddy, you were damn lucky all you got was phlemen! 
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I actually do use (with permission and checking the fine print of both mine and their insurance) the neighboring winery for trial by fire. Not for young boy. Not for a long time yet for him! But it is a good training reminder to ground drive my big guy around the winery when it is reasonably busy. I pick and choose my days carefully. I don’t allow petting, I will pose for pictures. It has been good for both of us, he has spooked a few times (he is a spook in place type), and I have gotten much, much better at reading his body language. I do always take DH along as a bouncer of sorts just in case. I don’t know if I will ever hitch and drive the big boy over there, though. Hitched there is so much more going on, plus he is not and probably never will be calm in shafts.
It also doesn’t hurt IMO to give people a good, if distant, impression of a big, rare breed draft horse. It is also apparently good for the winery’s business!
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Agree on the Bouncer for Public appearances in a non-horsy venue 
Which rare breed?
{Please say Shire 
}
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Shire! Two of them!
And yes, the bouncer/header is a must have safety tool
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Hey, it worked for Anheuser-Busch!
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The boys, taken on Sunny’s three year old birthday. Both are ‘old school’ in type. (yes I had just hacked their manes off for summer)
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Love them!
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That’s a lot of handsome
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Hubba hubba! That bay has the kindest eye.
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And he is so very smart, and a sweetheart. He is definitely a teenager, no question; but I could not ask for better. Never mind the fact that classic bay with chrome has always been my favorite. With Thoroughbreds it is a dime a dozen (which I grew up with), but with Shires? A bit harder to find!
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Back when I made an annual trip to RAWF I’d get a ticket for the evening show and hoped to see some of the 6 heavy horse hitch classes. One year I got to see the championship 6 heavy horse hitch class which featured the top two hitches from each breed. I liked the Shires best!
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Someday I’d love to try it, but I’d be peeing my pants having any more than two in hand. I’d be nervous as a cat!!
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From The Royal in 2007. The first is the 6 horse Draft hitches, the second is the 4-in-hand coaches.
I would love to try my hand at either one.
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